Universal speed control for multiple prime movers



Oct. 17, 1944. c. M. ANDERSON 2,360,753

UNIVERSAL SPEED CONTROL.FOR MULTIPLE PRIME MOVERS Filed June 17, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet l c. M ANDERSd/V INVENTOR. I

1,114 Y5. Cfiwe 7 7 ORA/1f V Oct- 17, 1944- c. M. ANDERSON 2,360,753

UNIVERSAL SPEED CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE PRIME MOVERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 0 696 @6 Q@ Q6 Q6 Q3 Q6 0 O 6 0:0 Q6 96 o 0 Q6 Q6 Q6 9 Filed June 17, 1941C. M. ANDERSON IN VENTOR.

HTTO/P/VEV Oct. 17, 1944. c ANDERSON 2,360,753

UNIVERSAL SPEED CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE PRIME MOVERS Filed June 1'7, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 3 c. M nuasnso/v INVENTOR. 52am 6. QQaA/ Z H7'7'O/P/VEVPatented Oct. 17, 1944 UNIVERSAL SPEED CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE PRIluEMOVERS Carl M. Anderson, Corsicana, Tex., assignor to American Well &Prospecting Company, Navarr County, Tex., a corporation Application June17, 1941, Serial No. 398,467

9 Claims.

This invention relates to power plants and in particular to apparatus ofthis type utilizing a plurality of prime movers which are to becontrolled synchronously, separately, or locked in a predeterminedoperating position.

Although the invention is not confined thereto it'is of particularutility in power plants for rotary well drilling where separate enginesmay be used at times for operating different equipment but at othertimes are to be used in multiple or tandem for handling excessive loads.When using such arrangement it is necessary to provide one or more powerunits, each of which is capable of handling the load imposed by certainoperations such as the driving rotary table, operating the mud pumps, orauxiliary hoisting. When, however, it is necessary to pull a long stringof drill pipe from a deep well, a large amount of power is requiredaudit is then necessary to util ze the total output of the prime moversfor carrying out this operation.

An object of the invention is to provid a power plantincluding aplurality of prime movers re, spectively of a capacity to handleindividual machines of the drilling rig and capable of beingcontrollably operated for such purpose, itbeing also intended tocontrollably operate the prime movers, synchronously in multiple ortandem to handle excessive loads requiring power in excess of thatavailable from a single prime mover.

Another object is to provide a control unit for multiple prime moverswhich may be readily adjusted to lock the power units in, apredetermined operating condition.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class describedincluding a pair of prime movers, such device being-capable of lockingone of the units while the other unit may be desirably controlled.

These and other objects will be more fully apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an assembly view in elevation showing the invention asembodied in a well drilling mechanism operated by multiple prime movers;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the control unit of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to that shown iii-Fig. 2, parts beingcut away to more clearly illustrate structural features, the view beingtaken on line 33in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is asectional view taken on line 4-4' in Fig. 1, parts beingshownin' their relative positions when both prime movers aresynchronously controlled;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to that shown in Fig.4 but showing the relativeposition of parts when the control mechanism for one of the prime moversis locked and the control mechanism' of. the other prime mover isoperatively controlled by the operator;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the relative position ofparts when the control mechanisms for both prime movers are locked.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown in side elevation a power plantsuch as are used in deep well drilling operations by the rotary method;such plant comprising supporting skids lfu'pon which is mounted hoistingequipment 2 to be" driven by either or'both of the prime movers shown'as'internal combustion engines 3 and' i. Each of the engines 3 and 4includes control mechanism as is well known in the art and such controlmechanism is operated in accordancewith the illustrated embodiment bymeans of driving chains 5 and 6' which are operatively connected throughsprockets l and 8 to concentric rock shafts 9' andrlll'mo'unteduponbrackets, "l2 and I3 uponone of the skids I. Shafts 9andl'0' are in turnrespectively connected through chains l4 and I5 passing beneathsprockets H3 and IT and thence to a. control unit generally referred toas 20 mounted upon an upright 2| so that, as will more fully appear,control may be had by the operator of" the prime movers 3 and 4 throughthe operation of the hand wheel 22. I It isto be understood thatsuitable mechanisms (not shown) are provided for connecting the primemovers 3 and '4 in tandem t0 the hoisting or'other equipment 2 or forselectively connecting sucliprime movers toother mechanisms such asarotary table, 'mud pumps, or other supple mentary or auxiliaryequipment. It is also to be understood that the device of the invention:isof equal utility whether the prime movers 3 and 4 be internalcombustion engines such as illustrated or other sources of power:provided with individ-l' ual' speed control mechanisms,

As best seen in Fig. 3, the control unit 20 com prises a housing orsupporting frame 30'boltedto the upright 2|, the control elements suchas chains ['4 and 15' passing upwardly from the sprockets l6 and IT andover idling pulleys, and 3i. on bracket 33 secured tothesupportfl.Thence the chains l4 and I5 pass through open: ings 34 in the web 35' ofthefsupport and into the? interior'of the housing 30 where they passover drive members Wand-M- (Figs. 5 and 6) sothat rotation of thesemembers will drivably operate the control mechanisms of the prime movers3 and 4.

The respective drive members 40 and 4| comprise hub portions 42 and 43.The hub 42 has aflixed thereto asprocket 44 and a gear 45 and thisassembly is fixed to the transverse shaft 46 by means of a set screw 41.The shaft 46 has one end thereof journaled in a bearing 48 in the wallof the housing 30, the other end of this shaft being journaled withinthe hub member 43 which is in turn journaled in the other wall of thehousing 30. 50 attached thereto, such sprocket and gear being identicalto the sprocket 44 and gear 45 attached to the hub member 42. The chainsl4 and I5 pass over the respective sprockets 44 and 49 and it seemsapparent that the rotation of these sprockets is effective in exercisingcontrol of the speed of the prime movers 3 and 4.

The outer end of the hub 43 and the adjacent end of the shaft 46 arethreaded and have secured thereto concentric dials 5| and 52. Thesedials are provided with indicia or marks 55 and 56 to serve as anindication to the operator of the relative angular position of the drivemembers 4|) and 4|.

A control assembly generally indicated as 60 extends transversely of thehousing 30 adjacent the wheels 45 and 50. This assembly comprises a rodor shaft 6| which is slidably but non-rotatably mounted within openingson the opposite sides of the housing 30. One end of the shaft isProvided with a rotatable head 62 of a configuration to be readilygrasped by the hand of the operator. This head is provided with an ear63 to serve a purpose hereinafter described.

The rod 6| and associated elements is constantly urged to the left, asviewed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by means of a spring 65 which surrounds therod exteriorly of the housing 30 and has its ends in engagement with theouter wall of the housing and a washer 66 secured to the end of the rod.

Interiorly of the housing 30 the control assembly 60 includes a pinion10 rotatably mounted upon the rod 6| between spaced sectors II and 12.Each of these sectors is provided with a peripheral tooth or teeth 13having the same pitch diameter as the teeth on the pinion III.

In view of the structural features just described, it seems apparentthat when the indicia 55 and 56 on the dials 5| and 52 are in matingrelation it is possible to manually shift the assembly 60 transverselyof the housing 30. The position which this assembly will take whenreleased by the operator will depend upon the angular position of theear 63 about the axis of the rod 6| since this ear is adapted to engagethe respective stepped surfaces 15, 1B, 11 and 18 upon the exterior ofthe housing 30.

Adjacent the assembly 60 there is journaled in the housing 30 a shaft 80to which is keyed a drive pinion 8| so that upon rotation of the handwheel 22 a driving effort will be imparted to the pinion 10 and thenceto the control mechanism erstwhile described. It is to be understoodthat this driving connection between the drive pinion 8| and the pinion10 is maintained regardless of the adjusted position of the controlassembly 60.

The operation of the structure comprising an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention is believed apparent from the foregoing description. Byway of summary it may be stated that when the control assembly 60 isadjusted to the position indicated in'Fig. 4 of the drawings, rotationof the hand wheel 22 is instrumental in imparting rotational effort toeach of the wheels 45 and 50 and thence mediately to the controlmechanisms of the respective prime movers 3 and 4.

If the control assembly 60 is adjusted by the operator to the positionindicated in Fig. 5, it is to be noted that the sector 12 has been movedinto engagement with the gear 5|] and, since the sector 12 isnon-rotatable, such'gear and associated mechanism are locked inpredetermined position The hub 43 has a sprocket 49 and gear and hencethe control for the motor 3 is locked. At the same time, however, thereis a driving connection between the drive pinion 8| and the gear 45through pinion 10 which thus serves as an idler gear. Accordinglyrotation of the hand wheel 22 is instrumental in desirably controllingthe speed of the prime mover 4 while the mechanism for controlling motor3 is maintained in locked position. It seems apparent that in event thecontrol assembly 60 is shifted to the right by means of the knob 62, thesector II will engage the gear 45 and hence the control for the primemover 4 becomes locked whereas there is effected a driving connectionbetween the hand wheel 22 and the speed control mechanism of the motor 4whereby the control .is reversed relative to that just described.

When the control assembly 60 is adjusted to an intermediate position-asillustrated in Fig. 6, it is to be noted that the sector 1| or thesector 12 moves into engagement with'one of the gears 45 or 50 wherebysuch gear is-locked in position, At the same time, however, the pinion10 has not moved from engagement with such locked gear and accordinglysuch pinion is locked against rotation and in this manner locking ofboth of the gears 45 and 50 is brought about. Such adjust- I ment of thedevice is desired when both of the prime movers 3 and 4 areto beoperatedfor a period of time with their speed, control mechanisms in fixedposition. Such setting of the controls may be desired whether the primemovers 3 and 4 be operated in tandem at synchronous speed, or separatelyand whether synchronously or asynchronously.

While the foregoing description has been confined to a specificillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctlyunderstood that the invention is not confined to such specificembodiment. Broadly the invention comprehends a power plant comprising aplurality of prime movers and means for selectively controlling. thespeed control mechanisms of such prime movers.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control device for a pair of prime movers each having speedcontro1 means, a control unit, said control unit comprising a pair ofdrive members, each of said drive members being operatively connected toone of said speed control means, a control shaft, and a control assemblyadjustably interposed between said shaft and members to selectivelydrive one of said members and to lock the other of the members.

2. In a speed control device for twin motors each having a speed controlmechanism, the combination therewith of a pair of drive membersoperatively connected to the respective control mechanisms, 2, gearwheel on each of said members, a control assembly movable axially ofsaid gear wheels, said assembly including a pinion adapted to engageboth of the gear'wheels, and means for driving said pinion to operatethe speed control mechanisms in synchronism.

3. Ina speed control device for twin motors each having a speed controlmechanism, the combination therewith of a pair of drive membersoperatively connected to the respective control mechanisms, a gear wheelon each of said members, a control assembly adjacent said gear wheels,said assembly including a rod movable transversely of said wheels, arotatable toothed member mounted on said rod adapted to simultaneouslyengage said gear wheels and an additional member fixed on said rodadapted to engage one of said wheels so that the wheels and associatedmechanisms are locked in position 4. In combination, a support, a pairof drive members mounted thereon, each of said members including a gear,a control assembly adjacent said gears, said assembly including a fixedtoothed member and a rotatable toothed member movable axially of thegears so that movement, of said toothed members successively providesynchronous driving of the drive members by the rotatable member,locking of the drive members, and thereafter continued locking of one ofthe drive members and a driving connection between the rotatable memberand the other drive member.

5. In combination, a housing, a pair of drive members rotatably mountedthereon, each of said members including a gear, a control assemblywithin the housing adjacent said gears, said assembly including a rodnon-rotatably mounted within but movable axially of the housing, spacedgear sectors fixed on said rod and adapted to engage one of the gears, arotatable pinion between said sectors adapted to simultaneously engageboth of said gears, a drive gear for said pinion, and means forselectively positioning said assembly transversely of the housing tocontrol the operation of said drive members by the drive gear.

6. In a device of the class described, a support, a pair of drivemembers having toothed peripheral areas thereon, an axially movablepinion adjacent said members and engageable with both of the toothedareas, means for driving said pinion, and a non-rotatable member movablewith said pinion and adapted to engage one of said toothed areassimultaneously with the pinion whereby the pinion is locked againstrotation.

7. In a device of the class described a support, a pair of drive membershaving toothed surfaces thereon, an axially movable pinion adjacent saidmembers and engageable with both of the toothed areas, means for drivingsaid pinion and non-rotatable members at opposite sides of the pinionand movable therewith to engage one of said areas.

8. In combination a support, a pair of drive members mounted thereon andhaving peripheral toothed areas, a rod slidably but non-rotatablymounted adjacent said members, a fixed member and a rotatable membermounted upon said rod and adapted to engage said toothed area so thatthe fixed member engages one of the drive members and the rotatablemember engages both of said members whereby the members are lockedagainst movement.

9. In a control device for a pair of prime movers each having speedcontrol means, a control unit, said unit comprising a pair of rotatabledrive members operatively connected respectively to said control means,a control shaft, means adjustably interposed between said shaft and saidmembers for synchronously rotating the drive members, and juxtaposedindicia carrying means operable respectively in synchronism with thedrive members to indicate the relative positions of the control meanswhen said interposed means is moved to synchronous driving position.

CARL M. ANDERSON.

